Saving Healthcare Reform

How we can Save Health Care Reform:

IMPORTANT POINT TO DEMOCRATS:
People come from all over the world NOT for our Health Care, THEY COME FOR OUR DOCTORS who are the best in their fields, Worldwide.

What we are missing in this version of HCR is the public option.
Well here is a plan.
Pass this bill and then tweak it. There are over 40 million people that need affordable health care. Those in that group who are disabled already qualify for Medicare. So they are getting public option care already.

It seems to me that a good number of people needing affordable health care are not ill. They are young graduates, out of work after college with bills to pay and no one to hire them. They can not stay on parents policy, yet they can not find a job that has benefits. Another segment of the population that would benefit from a public option are be entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur/small business owners who can not afford to insure their employees (let alone themselves and their family) without one of the spouses working somewhere with good benefits. But that particular American dream is fast becoming history.

We are talking about a pool of 43 million and I don't buy that they are all sick. If there were an affordable public health care option, then more people would be able to start small businesses without the fear of going broke due to medical costs. Has the news not been saying that to save the economy, we have to spur small businesses growth? Wouldn't having a public option available to small businesses give them another option for insurance. And don't choices in insurance mean competition. And isn't competition good for keeping costs down?

Oh - but there is no public option so where will it come from?

OK, in plain language THERE is a PUBLIC OPTION DELIVERY AND PROCESS SYSTEM already in place--
Medicare is so sacrosanct that the Republicans do not want it touched. OK but there are plenty of revisions to Medicare (truly a bipartisan agreement) that need to be done.
Do the Medicare reforms and make the program more efficient and effective. Run it like an insurance companies would, but instead of lining the pockets of board members and stockholders with profits, pour them back into making the system even better and more efficient. Give the insurance companies competition and give the US citizens choice! Choice between Aetna, BCBS or USA.

Using an already existing "delivery system" means efficiency and not "re-inventing the wheel".

Pass Health Care Reform and then tweak it. Tweak it to the new, streamlined and efficient Medicare: the true public option (that already has an existing infrastructure and delivery system).

BTW If you pass HCR and the groups I have mentioned(college grads, entremprenuers, small business owners, chronically ill) are positively affected and there is growth in the economy--you won't have to worry about re-election.

And wait there is more:

Use the new efficient and prosperous MEDICARE for all Government employees. That's their health care plan. Or they can buy private individual policies from insurance companies. Oh Gosh. Would that make MEDICARE the single largest one payer provider in the US? Maybe. And who likes efficient large, single payee groups? Well hospitals and doctors. The very same doctors people come from all over the world to see. More providers will join the list as Medicare providers (considering it would be the largest "single payer" to PROVIDERS). And with competition,MEDICARE would be able to pay Physicians fairly and competitively.

Make the already existing system more efficient, effective and economical. Start phasing people in as suggested in the current HCR Bill with one major addition: The first group to be able to "buy in" should also include the chronically ill. Some have private insurance thru spouses or parents, but many chronically ill fall between the gap that would cover someone in college and the ability to get it on their own after college.

Use the majority that you have now to pass HCR.
And the stronger majority you will get subsequently to tweak HCR.

Put the US back in USA. Listen to the people.

No Name Calling, No Tea,

No looking over your shoulder,

For our children
and beyond

A message from Stephanie Parkinson

February 19, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

February is National Marfan Awareness Month.


Our son Cory was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome at the age of 16 while attending Downers Grove South High school. While at Downers Grove South, Cory excelled not only academically, but musically as well, garnering 7 IMEA State Composition Awards, several National and Community Awards and representing DGS in the All-State Honors Choir.
After graduating DGS with honors in 2008 Cory was proud to attend The University of Michigan School of Music as a Music Composition Major. Unfortunately, during the spring semester of 2009 he was forced to withdraw from the University of Michigan due to health complications of Marfan syndrome. He is currently residing in Downers Grove, receiving available treatment for his condition and hopes to return to the University of Michigan in the future. The above picture is Cory playing the piano in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic during the 2009 National Marfan Conference.

Since Cory graduated from DGS, I have been an active volunteer for the National Marfan Foundation www.marfan.org and have been working to increase awareness & education, providing online and local support to Marfan patients and their families.

In honor of National Marfan Awareness Month I am hosting a three part Fundraiser to benefit the National Marfan Foundation:
1) A letter writing campaign for family and friends asking for a contribution*
2) An online campaign via email/Blogging/Facebook/Twitter requesting donations*
3) A Spring Floral Design Program/Fundraiser hosted by Heritage House Florist in Downers Grove on March 11, 2010.

Please consider making a donation* to the National Marfan Foundation
Donations* can be made online by visiting:
http://www.firstgiving.com/stephanieparkinson

*Any donations made prior to March 30th, 2010 automatically enters you in a drawing for a FABULOUS gift package which includes a CD of original compositions and vocal performances by Cory Parkinson, a CD by Chicago Indie artist TEAMROCKIT an NMF T-shirt, hand created heart jewelry and many other wonderful surprises. Random drawing will be held on April 1, 2010.

Thank you in advance for any level of participation in support of this worthy cause!

If you have any questions, please contact me at stefpark@aol.com

Information about Marfan syndrome and the National Marfan Foundation can be found at
www.marfan.org

Time is NOW to Speak Out on Health Care Reform

I consider myself a health care reform advocate. It is a deeply personal issue to me and my family. I am also informed. I owe it to myself and my family and future generations to keep informed be researching the facts and rising above the rhetoric. There are several individuals and organizations I feel are also fighting the uphill battle of keeping informed and spreading the current news on HCR. I will be posting links to those sites at the bottom of this post.

THE NUMBER ONE THING I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER:

What is happening now in YOUR government, of the PEOPLE and FOR THE PEOPLE is historic and YOU can make a difference. Please do not sit idle. PLEASE MAKE NOISE.
It is apparent from the past few months of bickering and partisanship that the majority of our elected leaders are not doing what is best for WE, THE PEOPLE. We are at a pivotal point in HCR. It has basically come down to now or never. And P.S. I do not claim that this HCR bill is perfect. What I will say is this:
This issue is too important to our country to ignore. We need Health Care for all, and we need it now. Pass this HCR legislation. It can (and should)be tweaked later, the very same way every administration tweaks legislation and programs re: Taxes, Education, Energy,etc.

Today, President Obama is asking you to make yourself heard: Link to video:

President Obama "Make your Voices Heard NOW on Health Care Reform": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtZLvFrl6qk

Other Links to help you MAKE NOISE.

How to Contact your Senator or Congressman

Senate: http://www.senate.gov/ (Search box top right of page)
Congress: http://www.house.gov/ (Zip code search box top left of page)

Then A) send them an email TODAY B) call them TODAY C) send them a good old fashioned letter TODAY! JUST MAKE SOME NOISE!
Let them know that the time is NOW; to step up and do the right thing.... FOR THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE HEALTH CARE REFORM IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

Here is an link to an article "Ten people who could decide health care reform"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33957_Page2.html#ixzz0hK4GdThw

Please read this list. If any of your representatives are listed, it is especially important for you to contact them TODAY. Even if your representative is not listed, pick one or two (or all) on this list and email/call/contact TODAY and let them know how vitally important health care reform is, to you, and to our country.
Put politics aside, vote for an issue that will strengthen our country and allow WE THE PEOPLE to move forward and be the best we can be.

Other links On Health Care Reform:

National Small Business Association http://www.healthreformtoday.org/about.html

Video "450,000 Physicians Can't be Wrong" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkGGDOp4uUg

Socialism!? Not really--definitions and facts: http://www.healthcarereformtoday.com/

Blue Cross Blue Shield KC on Board with HCR http://www.kchealthcarereform.org/

Want more information--timeline where we are and how to get involved now?
Health Care For America NOW:
http://www.healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/steps_to_win/#2


Resources:

Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness http://www.advocacyforpatients.org/

@WorkWithIllness Chronic Illness Career Coach http://www.cicoach.com/about.html

As always, I welcome your comments and questions...